Man gets 20 years for shooting woman in head over parking lot dispute

A 35-year-old man will spend the next two decades in prison after a jury convicted him of shooting a woman in the head during a dispute in an apartment complex parking lot. The sentence imposes 20 years of incarceration followed by five years of probation, a penalty that follows a three-year gap between the shooting and the defendant's arrest.

Deputies from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Hilton Head Gardens apartment complex in June 2023 after receiving calls about a shooting. Officers found spent shell casings on the pavement, a pool of blood, and bullet damage to a parked minivan. The female victim had been driving a friend's vehicle to the complex before getting out to meet a male friend who had followed in his own car.

The incident began when the female victim exited her vehicle and questioned Garvin about his behavior toward another woman. Witnesses described the two tussling over a liquor bottle while other people gathered at an all-day party. The female victim asked Garvin why he was beating the other woman, and the two exchanged angry words. As the male friend tried to coax the woman back into his vehicle to leave, Garvin pulled out a gun and fired.

Jeff Kidd, a spokesman for the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, confirmed that Garvin fired at least four shots. The woman was initially transported to a local hospital before being transferred to a second facility for intensive care to treat potential brain bleeding. She survived the incident, which led to charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.

Garvin was not caught at the scene. He was arrested in Georgia three months later after multiple witnesses identified him as the shooter. The court reviewed his criminal history, which dates back to 2011 and includes convictions for assault and battery, pointing and presenting a firearm, driving under suspension, and parole violations.

The conviction resulted in the guilty verdict this week for both attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The sentencing aligns with the severity of the injuries sustained by the victim, who required intensive medical attention for head trauma. The case closed with the judge imposing the combined term of prison time and probation.